"Sit down." Fried invited Rhode to sit in front of the mirror, neatly setting up the makeup kit.
Rhode stuffed a piece of pastry into his mouth and mumbled, "Want some?"
Fried said, "I've already eaten, but Laxus likes this flavor."
"...Should I save some for him?"
"No need, I'll make fresh ones for him later." Fried suddenly held his face in a girlish manner, lost in thought.
He glanced in the mirror and commented, "Even though you're the groom today, Laxus still looks cooler while eating."
"Yes, yes..." Rhode dismissed the comment, "'Laxus is so charming, how can Rhode compare to Laxus?'"
Those who praise Laxus are good people, and Fried reassured him, "Don't worry, you're the star today, and I'll make sure you shine."
Rhode quieted down, a bit uneasy as Fried worked on his face.
The sound of an airship drifted in, and things outside seemed to be getting busier, suggesting the guests had arrived.
Laxus and Biguslo were busy welcoming guests, so Rhode didn't have to worry for the time being.
Once Fried finished his work, Rhode was free to change into different clothes and head out.
At a glance, he spotted the bald head in the crowd; it was Jura from Lamia Scale.
He was currently exchanging a "deep gaze" with Kildas, their eyes locked as if lightning was sparking between them, a look of finding a worthy opponent.
Fortunately, Jura was a sensible person and didn't challenge anyone on the spot but greeted politely.
"Lord Rhode, congratulations," Jura greeted as soon as he saw Rhode.
Rhode smiled and said, "Thank you, was it hard traveling all the way here? Did you come alone?"
"No, Leon wanted to meet someone important, so he came along too." Jura glanced to the side, "Kind of rude, though."
"It's fine..." Rhode followed his gaze and noticed another person along with Gray in the guild who disliked wearing clothes.
Were they both focused on Gray?
Leon seemed to sense someone watching him and suddenly darted over, nearly toppling Gray.
He shook Rhode's hand eagerly, "Hello, Mr. Rhode!"
"..." Rhode wanted to say he wasn't interested in guys or shaking hands with someone half-naked, but since he was a guest, he replied, "Hello, thank you for coming."
"No need to thank me; actually, I wanted to ask you a favor!"
"...Go ahead."
"Please make me one of the groomsmen!"
Rhode awkwardly replied, "Well, the number needs to match that of the bridesmaids, so unfortunately we can't add anyone last minute."
Leon said, "That's easy; Gray has already given his spot to me!"
Gray rushed over and knocked Leon several meters away, "Who said I'm giving it to you?! This is our guild's wedding, so why are you fighting for a spot?"
Leon got up and butted heads with Gray again, "Because Juvia is a bridesmaid, I have to become a groomsman! You don't care about these things anyway, so why not let me have it?"
Gray didn't back down, "None of your business! Rhode personally asked me to be one!"
Leon poked at Gray's muscular chest below his bow tie, "Why would Mr. Rhode want you, who might strip anytime, at his wedding?"
Gray poked back at Leon, "You, of all people, have no right to call me that!"
The two brothers were engrossed in their argument, ignoring Rhode entirely.
Jura kept apologizing on Leon's behalf. Rhode expressed understanding and sympathy.
Which of the Ten Wizard Saints hasn't seen a naked guy or two?
Marcus shouted at the door, "Rhode, the Pegasus people are here!"
Rhode hurried to greet them, while Jura considerately mentioned he would go chat with Makarov.
Sure enough, stepping out, Rhode saw the familiar Pegasus quartet, with Jenny tagging along this time.
"Men~~~ the scent of wedding is exceptionally enchanting, we, representing Blue Pegasus, offer our sincerest blessings!"
"Blessings!"
"Thank you, please come in!"
After exchanging greetings, One Night went to catch up with Jura, while Hibiki, Ren, and Ive went to hit on the other female guests.
Mirajane's former model friends arrived in large numbers, ensuring that Bisca wouldn't be harassed by those guys.
However, Macao and Wakaba were quite upset, having argued for a long time to entertain these beautiful ladies, and now their competitiveness fell dramatically with those new arrivals.
Jenny stayed back to chat more with Rhode, "Long time no see; I didn't expect you to get married right after coming back. Congratulations."
"Thanks, how have you been?"
Jenny flipped her hair, proudly saying, "What else? I'm now ranked first in the 'Most Desired Girlfriend Mage List.' Even if Mirajane returns, she won't beat me."
"I can't agree with that." Rhode lightly shook his head. Jenny had changed quite a bit in six years, indeed more charming than six years ago, but in his eyes, the top spot was already fixed.
Before Jenny could counter, Rhode brought the conversation back, "That's not what I meant. I was asking about your love life; haven't you dated anyone in these six years?"
Jenny raised an eyebrow, somewhat agitated, "How... how could I not have dated anyone?"
Rhode just thought it was friendly concern, but Jenny heard it like a challenge to her charm and instinctively denied it.
Realizing her raised voice, she glanced somewhere nervously. Seeing no one noticed, she defended herself, "The number of people wanting to date me stretches from Blue Pegasus to Fairy Tail! It's just that I don't want to... to..."
She looked uneasy, and Rhode felt something was off.
"Rhode, the people from Mermaid's Heel are here!" Marcus's voice tinged with slight excitement.
Understandably so, since Mermaid was famously 'The Dancing Princess of the Sea.'
Rhode assumed it would be Mirena, but surprisingly came across Simon.
"Why are you..." Rhode remembered him having joined Blue Pegasus.
Simon waved at Rhode, "I came with my sister and Mirena."
Behind him emerged two girls, one jumped out, orange hair, cat ears, full of energy: "The strongest genki! Long time no see, meow!"
Rhode waved back, "Long time no see."
The other, with long black hair and a princess cut, wore a white bow headband, appearing more composed than Mirena.
Simon introduced, "Kagura, this is Mr. Rhode."
Kagura bowed formally, "Mr. Rhode, pleased to meet you for the first time, thank you and your companions for helping my brother, I am deeply grateful."
She seemed like a disciplined young girl. Rhode smiled, "Hello, that was a long time ago; no need to be so formal, just feel at home here."
Simon spotted Jenny, greeting her, "You've arrived too? Where's Mr. Yiye and the others?"
Jenny didn't answer his question, instead teasing, "You still remember you're with Blue Pegasus? I thought you might have joined Mermaid's Heel."
Simon replied, slightly embarrassed, "I hadn't visited my sister for a while."
Jenny dismissed it, thinking it hadn't even been half a month.